New Instant Fines for Alcohol Offences

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 gives licensing inspectors and Police the power to issue instant fines through an infringement notice.

Patrons may be given an infringement notice and have to pay a fine if they:

present a fake ID

use someone else's ID to buy alcohol

give or lend an ID to an underage person if you know they intend to use it to buy alcohol

Licensees may be given an infringement notice for non-compliance with their license conditions.

The fee for infringements of this type is $250.

Ashburton District Council Licensing Inspector, Alison Batcheler says being able to issue infringement notices is likely to see an increase in the number of people prosecuted for alcohol-related offences.

"In the past we did not have the ability to issue infringement notices and often the process for full prosecution was lengthy and expensive, meaning it was often not used to full effect," says Mrs Batcheler.